Names are much like fashion, and they often come and go in waves of popularity. The Baby Boomer generation, born between 1946 and 1964, brought forth a plethora of names that have since seen a significant decline in popularity. Here, we delve into 20 once-popular Baby Boomer names that have largely fallen out of favor.
Pat
Traditionally short for Patricia, it feels like everyone knows someone called Pat as it’s such a common Boomer name. During the late 1940s, this name became popular, especially among girls, but it has significantly dropped in popularity in recent decades, and it’s rare to meet a young person called Pat.
Barbara
We bet that if you know a woman called Barabara, she is most likely an older lady and a Boomer, as this name was popular in the US between 1940 and 1960. But, younger parents these days view the name Babara as being out of date and old-fashioned sounding, and they prefer to choose unique and unusual names for their daughters like Willa or Freya.
Rodney
Rodney is such a classic male Boomer name, and we’ve all heard someone talk about their “Uncle Rodney” at some point. This is another common Boomer name that has seen a sharp decline in recent years. Though once well-liked, there are a lot fewer babies called Rodney entering the world in 2024.
Cindy
The name Cindy was a hit in the 50s and 60s, with the Cindy dolls adding to its popularity. Cindy was once seen by parents as a feminine, fun, girly name. But, it has now lost its charm, with a very low number of parents opting for this name in 2024.
Delbert
Delbert is quite an unusual name to hear these days, but it was once super popular, and the number of babies called Delbert peaked around the 1920s but it has since dwindled in use. Modern naming trends favor names that are more edgy, with a more contemporary vibe, leaving old-fashioned names like Delbert in the past.
Gary
If you know any men named Gary, chances are that they are older gentlemen and also Boomers. This name was very popular between 1940 and 1960, but not so much now, as parents in 2024 prefer to choose names that feel more unique and original for their sons, like Phoenix or Beau.
Horace
Horace is an ancient name, and it was popular at the turn of the 20th century but is rarely seen on birth certificates today. Despite its historical significance, it is considered to be quite old-fashioned, and it has not seen a resurgence in modern times.
Laverne
Peaking in the late 1920s, Laverne was a popular choice for girls. But not so much in 2024, and even with the contemporary fame of actress Laverne Cox, the name hasn’t made a comeback in the baby naming charts.
Chuck
The name Chuck always reminds us of a character from a funny movie, and it is a name that enjoyed popularity in the 1940s and 1950s, but it has since faded from common use. Not even the enduring fame of Chuck Norris could keep this name in vogue.
Randy
A staple name for Boomer boys, Randy saw immense popularity between 1940 and 1960 but has since declined. Approximately 200,000 boys were named Randy during the Baby Boomer years, highlighting its former prevalence.
Gail
Gail was a widely chosen name for girls during the Baby Boomer era. Despite its initial popularity, it’s now thought of as a rather old-fashioned name and is rarely selected by new parents.
Roger
Roger, once a top choice for boys, has seen a steady decrease in use. Despite its historical and cultural significance, modern parents tend to choose more contemporary and even gender-neutral names for their sons.
Linda
Linda was the most popular girl’s name in the United States at one point, with over 480,000 baby girls named Linda during the Boomer years. However, it has seen a significant decline in favor as it’s now viewed as a plain, old-fashioned name.
Larry
Larry used to be an exceedingly popular name, with around 360,000 boys named Larry during the Baby Boomer era. Although it still sees some use, it is no longer as fashionable as it once was.
Donna
Donna, a name that nearly 400,000 baby girls bore during the Boomer years, has also fallen out of favor. Once a top pick that saw a small increase in popularity thanks to pop stars like Donna Summer, it’s now a rarer choice among new parents in 2024.
Doug
Popular in the 1960s, Doug (often short for Douglas) has seen a decline in recent years. Famous bearers of the name, such as NFL players Doug Flutie and Doug Williams, haven’t managed to revive its popularity amongst parents.
Ronda
Once popular in the mid-1960s, Ronda has seen its popularity wane. Despite the fame of Ronda Rousey in sports, the name has not regained its former status and often falls at the bottom of the baby naming charts.
Pam
Pam, which is short for Pamela, became popular in the 1950s, and it saw a brief resurgence thanks to the fame and beauty of Pamela Anderson, but it is now seldom used. It was thought that characters like Pam Beesly from “The Office” might spark a resurgence, but it still remains a rare choice today.
Kim
While Kim was a common name for boys in the 1950s, it has since become more commonly associated with girls, contributing to its decline as a boys’ name, and we are more likely to think of Kim Kardashian when we hear this name than a male figure.
Bob
The name Bob is short for Robert, and it was once a very popular name for boys in the US, but it has fallen out of favor with modern parents. It’s usually found amongst the lower ranks of the baby naming charts in 2024.
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